Chapter: Area 11 — BritanniaMain Castle, Japan — Britannian Nobility Grounds
Within the heavily fortified walls of the Britannian stronghold, two secret meetings were underway. One hosted by Princess Cornelia with the nobles and military commanders. The other, far more covert, was convened by Cobra Commander.
Inside a dark, high-tech war room, a small group was already assembled: Firefly, Zartan, and several new arrivals in Japan, all seated around a polished steel table under the flickering lights of tactical monitors.
Dr. Mindbender
A twisted genius of genetics and robotics. Mindbender—loyal to Cobra Commander—was the architect of the life-preserving mask that kept the Commander alive. Despite his brilliance, his experiments had earned him a controversial reputation. Though he claimed to avoid civilian subjects, the criminals he used were those the world had already written off.
On the massive screen at the head of the room appeared a familiar face—another titan of industry and warfare.
Destro
Scarred by war, Destro now wore a metallic mask to conceal his disfigurement. He joined remotely from Europe, where he was overseeing weapons deals with Euro-Britannia, accompanied by other Cobra agents.
As the final screens blinked into life, Cobra Commander began.
Cobra Commander: "Gentlemen. I'm pleased you've all managed to attend—physically or virtually."
He turned to Destro's screen.
Cobra Commander: "Secure channel?"
Destro: "Absolutely. My hackers have ensured we're ghosted from any prying ears."
Cobra Commander: "Good. Then let's begin."
Dr. Mindbender stood up, clearing his throat, holding a clipboard with surgical precision.
Dr. Mindbender: "Our experiments on the criminal test subjects have shown... promise. However, there are complications."
Cobra Commander sighed, unsurprised.
Cobra Commander: "What kind?"
Mindbender tapped a remote. Destro's feed shrank to a corner as a video played across the main screen.
[Surveillance Footage]
A sleek humanoid robot marched down a metallic corridor. It walked perfectly—fluidly. Then, without warning, it stopped, clawed at its synthetic head, and ripped it off, revealing a partially grafted human skull.
It screamed. Then collapsed.
Cobra Commander facepalmed.
Mindbender: "The human minds can't withstand the fusion. They're... ending themselves. We've tried countless adjustments."
Zartan: "Why not just ditch the human brains altogether?"
Mindbender: "Because pure A.I. lacks instinct. A human mind can react, adapt, survive. The best soldiers need both muscle and intuition."
Cobra Commander stared at the footage in frustration.
Cobra Commander: "So how do we stop the suicides?"
Mindbender: "Memory wipes during implant integration. If we erase their sense of identity—remove what makes them them—they may endure."
Cobra Commander: "Do it. If it fails... we'll improvise."
Mindbender nodded and returned to his seat.
Cobra Commander turned to Zartan.
Cobra Commander: "Update. The Amazon. Resistance activity?"
Zartan: "We've nearly tracked the rebels, but Britannian forces are interfering. Racist bastards, too. Some of my boys want to kill them—hell, I don't blame them."
Cobra Commander: "Next time, call us for support—not Britannia. We'll handle it."
He shifted to Destro's screen.
Cobra Commander: "Status on the shipments?"
Destro: "You'll have your Knightmare Frames soon. But I request permission to fly to Japan—personally calibrate the systems. I don't trust Lloyd touching my hardware."
Cobra Commander: "I get it. Lloyd's a creep... but brilliant. He stays—for now."
Cobra paused and then brought up another file.
He clicked a button. A still image filled the screen—Zero, the masked vigilante, holding Suzaku after rescuing him.
Cobra Commander: "Any new intel on Zero or Kururugi?"
Zartan sighed.
Zartan: "Nothing solid. Just what our pyromaniac friend knows."
(Firefly silently flipped him off.)
Zartan: "Suzaku's past? Scrubbed clean. Somebody wants him hidden."
The Commander crushed the remote in his gloved hand in frustration—until Zartan added:
Zartan: "But we did find something. Suzaku's enrolled at some high-class Britannian school—Ashford Academy."
Zartan: "Maybe we lure him. Offer him girls, power—whatever it takes to turn him."
Mindbender: "Must your mind always be in the gutter?"
Everyone turned to Cobra Commander, who had gone quiet.
Firefly: "Commander...? You alright?"
He didn't answer right away. Then—suddenly—he turned to Mindbender.
Cobra Commander: "Doctor... is my other suit ready?"
Ashford Academy — Area 11
The prestigious Ashford Academy gleamed in the morning sun. Behind the high iron gates, Britannia's elite youth laughed and socialized—blissfully unaware of what approached.
A black limousine rolled to a stop near the entrance.
Driver (Firefly): "We're here. Open the gates."
The gate operator's voice crackled through the speaker.
Operator: "Y-yes! Ashford Academy welcomes—"
THUNK.
A knife silenced him.
The gates creaked open. Firefly drove in.
Ahead, a crowd of students surrounded the clock tower. Among them, Suzaku Kururugi—smiling politely, yet clearly out of place.
The limo stopped.
Firefly stepped out in full gear. Students flinched. But their fear multiplied when he turned and opened the passenger door.
Cobra Commander stepped out.
A hush fell over the courtyard. Fear and awe gripped the students. But one student didn't flinch—his cold gaze locked with Cobra's.
Lelouch vi Britannia.
Time seemed to slow as the two stared at each other.
Firefly (reaching for his gun): "You want me to—?"
Cobra Commander (raising a hand): "Let it go. I'm not here for games."
They strode into the school. The principal met them at the door, bowing so fast he nearly fell.
Principal: "Y-your highness! It's... it's an honor!"
Cobra Commander: "I wish to speak with a student. Suzaku Kururugi. Privately."
Principal: "O-of course, right away!"
Cobra Commander: "Oh—and one more thing."
Firefly raised his gun and fired into the ceiling. Screams rang out down the halls.
Cobra Commander: "No eavesdroppers."
Private Room — Ashford Academy
Suzaku sat in silence across from the masked commander. Firefly stood guard at the door, weapon ready.
Cobra Commander: "Suzaku. Sit. We need to talk."
Nervously, he obeyed.
Cobra Commander: "You're an interesting young man. A... puzzle."
He slid a folder across the table. Suzaku opened it—and froze.
Inside: photos of the invasion of Japan, and of General Genbu Kururugi.
Cobra Commander: "You're his son, are you not?"
Suzaku: "Y-yes, sir..."
Cobra Commander: "So why don't you hate us?"
Suzaku: "Because... because I believe Britannia can change. I want to be that change."
Cobra laughed, a low mechanical rasp.
Cobra Commander: "An optimist. Admirable—but naïve."
He leaned forward.
Cobra Commander: "Lancelot's ejection system—unreliable. Unvetted. You piloted it anyway. Why?"
Suzaku looked away, silent.
Cobra Commander: "Then, falsely framed for my brother's death, you return to your captors after Zero saves you. Do you want to die?"
Still, Suzaku said nothing.
Cobra stood and walked behind him, voice soft but cold.
Cobra Commander: "Your father... refused to surrender. But I don't believe he killed himself. And even if he did—why use a kitchen knife... and then a Wakizashi?"
Suzaku froze.
Suzaku: "...How do you know what a Wakizashi is?"
Cobra Commander: "Know your enemy—his tactics, his culture, his code."
He paused.
Cobra Commander: "Seppuku requires a Kaishakunin... where was his? No. I think he was murdered."
He lowered his voice.
Cobra Commander: "I think you did it."
Suzaku broke. Tears welled in his eyes.
Suzaku: "I... I had to. He was going to—"
He choked on the words.
Cobra Commander: "You may have saved millions. Or doomed them to a fate worse than death. But I'm not here to judge you."
He stepped back.
Cobra Commander: "You're joining my family now. But I don't employ suicidal soldiers. Pull yourself together."
He turned to leave.
Cobra Commander: "That's all. Oh—and thank Zero for me."
Suzaku sat in the silence, shaking, alone.
Outside — Clock Tower
Cobra and Firefly exited the school. Cobra paused, staring up.
Firefly: "Something wrong?"
Cobra didn't respond. His eyes locked with a figure on the clock tower above.
Lelouch, holding a black king chess piece.
Lelouch (to himself): "So... a new player enters the board."
He placed the piece on the tower's edge.
Lelouch: "This just got more complicated."